Automotive driving light

ABSTRACT

A removable weatherproof socket cover for an automotive lighting fixture is herein described. The removable cover supports a harness that optically aligns a baseless lamp that is retained therein. The harness is such that it regulates the lamp axially and symmetrically in relation to a reflector. In combination with spaced-apart locking studs and gasket, the socket cover can be attached to the fixture body and retained in a weatherproof sealed position.

[73] Assignee Unite States Patent [72] Inventors Harold L. Hough;

Charles W. Foss, both of Beverly, Mass. 814,729

Apr. 9, 1969 Nov. 16, 1971 Sylvania Electric Products line.

[21] Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [54] AUTOMOTIVE DRIVING LIGHT 1Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 ..240/41.35 R, 240/52.1 [51] 11nt.C1 F21v7/011 [50] Field01: Search 240/41,

41.3,41.35,41.5,4l.55,52.1,73 QD;313/318 [5 6] References Cited UN TTEDSTATES PATENTS 2,069,238 2/1937 Fraser 240/73 OD 3,262,001 7/1966Rijckeart.. 313/318 X 3,441,778 4/1969 Deiss 313/318 3,510,718 5/1970Vetere 313/318 1,447,378 3/1923 Fornaca 240/41 2,139,374 12/1938 Michelet a1. 240/41 X 2,786,937 3/1957 Arnejo 240/41 2,835,790 5/1958Divendel. 240/41.35 X 2,957,158 10/1960 Kenneth. 240/41.35 X 3,314,3314/1967 Wiley 240/41.3 X 3,445,646 5/1969 Brooks et a1 240/41.35 X3,467,822 9/1969 Plume 240/44 X Primary Examiner-Samuel S. MatthewsAssistant Examiner-Richard M. Sheer Att0rneys Norman .1. OMalley andLaurence Burns ABSTRACT: A removable weatherproof socket cover for anautomotive lighting fixture is herein described. The removable coversupports a harness that optically aligns a baseless lamp that isretained therein, The harness is such that it regulates the lamp axiallyand symmetrically in relation to a reflector. In combination withspaced-apart locking studs and gasket, the socket cover can be attachedto the fixture body and retained in a weatherproof sealed position.

PATENTEDNUV 1s ISTI 3,621,232

3, F IG.3 30 22 42 i4 40 iii 0 l4 HAROLD L. HOUGH III v I CHARLES w.FOSS INVENTORS -31 1"'- i. 20 20 1o fi l8 24 I8 ATTORNEY AUTOMOTIVEDRIVING LIGHT FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally tolighting fixtures but more particularly to automotive fixtures that areexposed to the rigors of extreme weather and to road conditions.

Sealed-beam head lamps used by the automotive field have recently beensupplemented with high-intensity lighting fixtures that have controlledlighting beam spreads. These fixtures have been used successfully inconjunction with the low beams of a standard automotive lamp, to provideadditional controlled light spread and deeper penetration of the road.

In recent years, highway improvements implemented faster rate of travelof the automobile. With increased speeds, especially during the eveninghours, it has become necessary to use the high beams of the vehicle morefrequently than necessary which in turn increases the safety hazard tothe oncoming drivers. With the use of the added supplemental lightingdevice such as described above, a more controlled and more penetratingbeam is attained without sacrificing safety.

PRIOR ART Normally, supplemental lighting fixtures were made in the formof a single housing the front end being provided with a lens and therear lamp-receiving end having a removable cover. The cover was usuallymade from material similar to the housing that is, in the form of a castor spun metal that was attached to the housing by suitable fasteningmeans. Another type of cover used with this type of fixture is a rubberboot that can be snap fitted over the lamp end ofthe fixture.

These above-mentioned cover arrangements required the lamp and socket tobe attached to the main body before the cover could be attached. Thismeant that all of the required precise lamp alignments and adjustmentshad to be made prior to sealing of the fixture by the cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In our invention, we have designed asupplemental automobile-lighting fixture that utilizes a baseless lampattached to a removable base cover that will axially as well assymmetrically align the lamp upon insertion into the fixture.

The insulated socket cover is designed to provide a floating harness andhorn'seating arrangement between the lamp and reflector. Thisarrangement aligns the baseless lamp in the light center of a reflectorand provides a spring-biasing force that locks the socket cover in aweathertight condition.

External electrical spades are attached to internal electricalconducting sleeves by flexible wires. The sleeves receive the lead wireof the lamp, thus providing an electrical path from the external spadesto the lamp positioned within the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective ofthe rear portion of the lighting fixture showing in particular therelative parts and their assembly procedure.

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the rear portion of thefixture showing the lamp and socket cover in the assembled position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the lamp and its relationship tothe electrical spades.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, an explodedview of the socket cover is viewed. The basic socket body is of circularconfiguration and is made from high-temperature material such asphenolic which alsoacts as an insulator. The socket body 10 has aknurled outer circumferential edge of 12 for easy gripping.

As viewed in FIG. 3, the central area of the socket body is providedwith embedded electrical lamp receivers 14, the open ends of which arelocated on the lamp-positioning end of the socket body It). A pair ofcontact spades 18 are partially imbedded and extend rearwardly from theback surface of the socket body. The embedded portions of the spades arebent at right angles and are connected to the ends of the lamp receiver14 by flexible wires 20. In assembly of the socket, the bent portions ofthe spades are recessed below the surface of the back edge of the cover10, this evacuation space is filled with an insulator material closelycompatible with the phenolic cover, such as a silastic rubber compound24. This compound provides a water tight seal for the spades. Locatedfrom the alignment of the lamp receivers 14 and approximately the samedistance from the center of the cover, a pair of standoff studs 28having enlarged heads extend from the socket cover 10 and terminatewithin a flared horn 32. A pair ofsprings 30 are positioned over thestuds and serve to springbias the flared horn 32 away from the cover 10.With this arrangement, the horn 32 can be moved against the action ofthe springs 30 to provide an adjustable element to the horn.

Located within the central portion of the horn 32 and fixed to the hornis a rectangular clamshell-type harness 36. The harness is formed in atwo piece overlapping configuration and the horizontal cross section ofthe shell is identical to the cross section of a standard press seallamp. The overlapping of the pieces form an expandable clamshellarrangement for the lamp base.

A single-ended baseless lamp 38 provided with enlarged pins ll) affixedto a pair of lead-in wires 42 which can be fitted into the matingclamshelltype harness 36. A locating and aligning node 44 is provided onthe press seal portion of the lamp and mates with an identical hole onthe harness 36 thereby locking the lamp to the harness.

With the lamp 38 positioned within the harness 36, the lead in wires 42extend through appropriate holes in the born 32, bringing the enlargedpins 40 attached to the lead-in wires in electrical contact with thereceivers 14. As noted in FIG. 3, the enlarged pins 40 do not penetratethe entire length of the receivers 14. With this arrangement when thehorn 32 is moved against the springs 30, the enlarged pins 40 traveldeeper within the receivers 14. This allows for adjustment of the hornand lamp which will be described hereinafter. It can be mentioned atthis time that the lamp must be locked into the harness to preventdisengagement during normal operational vibration. A curved wire 50 isutilized as a locking member and the upper end is formed, so that it canclose over the node 44. As viewed in FIG. 3, the wire is pivotally connected to ears formed on the bottom of the horn. The wire lock is shownin open position in full lines: and in a locked position as noted inphantom lines in FIG. 3.

On the lamp-receiving end of the socket body, there are three equallyspaced locking screws 56 spaced from the sur face of the socket body adistance equal to the thickness of a rear closure plate 64-.

As viewed in FIG. l, the rear end of the lighting fixture is shownpartly broken away to show a reflector 62 bearing an apex ring 63 andthe rear closure plate 641. The plate 64 is provided with three equallyspaced enlarged holes are arcuate slots 66 and centrally locatedaperture 63.

It can be seen that in comparing FIGS. l and 2, the components such asthe lamp gasket of FIG. 1 are fitted together and will be arranged, asviewed in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2.

The lamp 38 is first fitted into the clamshell harness 36, the nodelocking into its mating hole in the harness, thereafter the locking wire50 is moved over the node to finally lock the lamp into the harness.This places the enlarged pins 40 of the lamp in electrical relationshipwith the receivers 14!.

With the 0 ring gasket in place in groove 58, the lamp assembly can beapplied to the rear of the lighting fixture canister 70. The lamp 38passes through the aperture 68 until the apex ring 63 of the reflectorseats against the base of the horn 32. At this time, the heads of screws56 are aligned with the holes 66 but do not penetrate through the holes.With added pressure to the rear of the socket body and due to theengagement of the reflector ring 63 with the horn 32, the horn will beforced rearwardly against the action of springs 30. This applies springtension to the socket body 10 and when this finally is overcome, theheads of screws 56 will fully enter the holes 66. As mentioned above,the screws 56 are spaced from the surface of socket a distance equal tothat of the closure plate 64; therefore, when the socket body is turnedclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, the heads of the screws will becomecaptive in the accurate slots of holes 66. With this arrangement, thecomplete socket body 10 having its gasket ring compressed to the backsurface of the closure plate 64 provides a seal and a frictional forceto hold the socket in place during normal operation vibrations.

It is apparent that changes and modifications may be made within thespirit and scope of the instant invention. It is our intent, however, tobe limited only to the scope of the appended claims.

We claimr 1. An automobile headlight comprising:

a housing;

a reflector disposed within said housing and having a central aligningapex ring;

a removable circular socket body having locking means on the innersurface for securing said socket body to said housing;

lamp receivers positioned within said socket body;

contact spades electrically connected to said lamp receivers andextending from the outer surface of said socket body;

a spring-biased circular aligning horn supported by but spaced from theinner surface of said socket body and provided with a lamp-lockingmember;

a clamshell-type lamp holder positioned within the confines of saidspring-biased horn and provided with a lamp locating means;

a lamp having a press seal end of generally l-shaped transverse section,said press seal having a locating node thereon, said lamp being providedwith a pair of lead-in conductors hermetically sealed through andextending beyond said press seal, the end of each lead-in conductorhaving enlarged contact pins,

said lamp being positioned within said holder with said enlarged contactpins of said lamp engaging said lamp receivers in said socket body, saidlamp being retained in said holder by said node engaging said locatingmeans and locked into said holder by said lamp-locking member of saidhorn, said lamp being axially and symmetrically aligned in saidreflector when said apex ring of said reflector engages said horn.

Reconsideration of the above-identified application is respectfullyrequested in view of the foregoing amendment and the following remarks.

1. An automobile headlight comprising: a housing; a reflector disposedwithin said housing and having a central aligning apex ring; a removablecircular socket body having locking means on the inner surface forsecuring said socket body to said housing; lamp receivers positionedwithin said socket body; contact spades electrically connected to saidlamp receivers and extending from the outer surface of said socket body;a spring-biased circular aligning horn supported by but spaced from theinner surface of said socket body and provided with a lamp-lockingmember; a clamshell-type lamp holder positioned within the confines ofsaid spring-biased horn and provided with a lamp locating means; a lamphaving a press seal end of generally I-shaped transverse section, saidpress seal having a locating node thereon, said lamp being provided witha pair of lead-in conductors hermetically sealed through and extendingbeyond said press seal, the end of each lead-in conductor havingenlarged contact pins, said lamp being positioned within said holderwith said enlarged contact pins of said lamp engaging said lampreceivers in said socket body, said lamp being retained in said holderby said node engaging said locating means and locked into said holder bysaid lamp-locking member of said horn, said lamp being axially andsymmetrically aligned in said reflector when said apex ring of saidreflector engages said horn. Reconsideration of the above-identifiedapplication is respectfully requested in view of the foregoing amendmentand the following remarks.